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He flashed her a smile. “My lovely, you could never dress wrong in my eyes.”
“That’s not fair,” she said, slapping his arm. “You can’t palm me off with a compliment as an excuse to not answer my question.”
“I told you, you’ll have to wait and see,” he retorted, trying to suppress his mirth at her goading. “How did you get on with Lila yesterday?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Not bad, actually. She’s super intelligent, so it made the handover really easy.” Madison was still a bit sore about the shop incident yesterday, but she didn’t want to spoil the day by talking about her concerns. She was really enjoying the banter between them.
She felt more relaxed with him today after opening up to him the night before. It was not what she had expected at all. She had thought it might be awkward with him today, so she was relieved it had actually eased the tension.
She liked this new playful side to Fletcher's nature. Or maybe it had always been there, and it was only now that she had chosen not to push him away that she saw it.
She looked out of the window and watched the countryside roll past. The scenery here was very different from back home. It was more rugged, with deep gorges and steep wooded slopes. The trees erupting in pale spring green were interspersed by stands of dark pines. It was a wild country, and it held a harsh beauty.
“Oh, look at that. It’s so amazing,” she said as they passed a high waterfall.
“That’s Talon Falls,” said Fletcher. “A lot of the kids hang out there when the weather gets hot. It’s a great swimming hole. I used to go there with my sisters. There’s a cave behind the waterfall, and you can jump through the curtain of water into the pool below.”
“I’d love to go there sometime,” Madison replied. “The countryside here is beautiful. I have always loved the mountains.”
“Well, you’re in luck. That’s where we’re stopping to have breakfast,” Fletcher replied with a smile.
Madison's heart leapt. She’d been itching to get out into the amazing countryside. To feel the earth beneath her feet. Having witch blood meant she was highly in tune with nature and the seasons. Her entire being craved the bond that came with nature, and the waterfall had called to her the instant she saw it.
The picnic area was on a flat grassy expanse beneath the falls. The morning sun that had just climbed over the ridge shone on the sparkling water.
Madison chose a picnic table close to the water, and together, they set up the wonderful breakfast. “This is so beautiful,” Madison said. “I wish we could come here for breakfast every day.”
“I know what you mean,” Fletcher replied. “This is one of my favorite spots.”
“Could you wait for me for a moment?” she asked. “I just need to say hello to the spirits here.”
“Sure,” said Fletcher, smiling.
Madison made her way to the edge of the river and removed her shoes. She padded into the water and then put her hands into the current. The world came alive in her mind. She could feel where the river had been and was going. Her senses were super heightened, and she was aware of all the animals that dwelt nearby and the life growing in the soil.
Under her breath, she chanted an ancient witch’s greeting to the land, aligning her spirit with the natural world. She felt alive and whole. After a while, she removed her hands from the icy water and headed back to the table.
Fletcher sat, looking at her with a strange expression on his face. “I felt that, you know. It was like everything around you suddenly paid attention to you. I was watching a deer on the other side of the river. It stopped and looked, then it nudged its fawn forward so it could see what you were doing. Did you cast a spell on them?”
Madison smiled. Fletcher was telling her something she already knew in her heart, but it was nice to get confirmation. “Really, it's something anyone can do,” she said. “You just need to open your heart and say hello to the world around you. It’s one of the first things we’re taught as a witch, but it’s not magic. It’s just a way of being.”
“So I could do it?” he asked.
“If you were able to witness it, I would imagine you already do it without being aware that’s what you’re doing.” Madison felt completely content. Maybe life with Fletcher could really work. Now that she was opening up to him, she was more aware of who he was, and she really liked it.
They sat and ate the magnificent breakfast the castle chef had provided, talking about inconsequential things. This was definitely her kind of date.
When they finished, they packed up and headed back to the car. She was sad they couldn’t have stayed longer. The date was over way too quickly for her liking, but she guessed Fletcher had a lot to do at the palace.
When they got into the car, she was surprised when the driver turned onto the road away from the castle. “Where are we going?” she asked. “I thought that was our date?”
Fletcher laughed. “Oh, no. Our date has only just begun,” he replied, sitting back in the seat and smiling.
The road followed the course of the river for quite a way. The water was turbid with white foam after the spring rains and the melt water from the peaks. It crashed along the valley floor, smashing into the giant boulders that littered its bed.
As they drove, he pointed out features and told her of old memories. The road wound higher and higher into the mountains. The entire area was steeped in pack heritage, and Madison listened with interest as he told her of the history of the land.
They must have been driving for an hour or two when the driver turned the car onto a side road marked with a sign to Lantern Grove.
